Mandi El-Alzaru versus Ankaa Liu
When they returned, Professor Nyx explained about the Festival of Champions, which sounded like an even Ankaa would very much enjoy. She even nodded along when the teacher said blood was self and mana soul, though frowned immediately when he denied such. The language, components, and instructions he spoke of as key were surely just implements they, as humans, used to help channel their innate soul-given energy, no? The well was the soul and the focusing point the mind with all its contraptions and structures. Ankaa nodded once again to herself as she made sense of that. The professor’s point about control being key was something she also knew very well.
Finally, the match-ups were announced, and the students were all led into one huge area. Each pair (or trio, in some cases) had space enough to set up in a spacious private spot, though the martial artist noted with curiosity that while the grounds and the outside of the arena were protected, the whole inside was not. That is, no singular pair or group were protected from the other contestants, and they were all fighting simultaneously.
Hmm. We'll have to take care not to get knocked over by attacks from our neighbors, I see.Ankaa briefly assessed her enemy, breathed in, and centered herself. She channeled the mana within her body, reinforcing it, and focusing a part of it in her eyes. As such, she was able to see the clear-sky-reflected-in-a-river colour of her opponent’s mana. Liu smiled peacefully as she recognized their strength. Then, with the left palm resting on the handle of her sheathed sabre, she dashed towards Mandi, closing the distance between them. Once near enough, she half-crouched, and swept her right leg at them, aiming to destabilize their balance by targeting their legs.
'Exhibition matches already?' It all seemed pretty odd to Mandi, and the warning... no the promise that the lowest performing students would be kicked out. Just like that. Mandi thought this itself was a jest, in order for everyone to really give it their all. It was for certain an effective motivator. Whereof it was true or false, all students would try their hardest no doubt just to be on the safe side. Mandi believed that there would be no chance that the professor would throw someone out after the first day, it went against the founding principles the headmaster spoke of. It wasn't after all the difference in skill or magic that mattered, it was about bringing out the potential out of everyone. Perhaps this was indeed what professor Nyx was after.
As Mandi headed towards the place where the fightings would occur, the young mage wished Yvaine and Sophiel the best of luck, with a wink and friendly smile. When the match-up's were announced, Mandi came face to face with the one who had introduced herself before Mandi did in the lecture hall. Ankaa Liu. The words at that time had been very brief much like Mandi's. But now they were standing face to face in a place of fighting beginning all around them. If this were a fight against the miracle seven... victory or loss wouldn't matter much to Mandi. But now with the promise, a lie or not. A possibility of being forced to leave the academy. This was a fight which had to be won no matter what.
'This girl...oh?' Mandi thought while looking over Ankaa, reaching out to sense her mana. This opponent also seemed to carry a blade.
'An up close and personal type...' The young mage thought, whilst locking eyes with Ankaa. The girl offered a smile before dashing towards Mandi. There was no words, no introduction and no formality to what Mandi was concerned. Mandi's red eyes widened, then a slight glimmer in the eyes, as the cheery and carefree personality was replaced with a serious one. The hydromancer quickly summoned it's magical water to both hands, the water violently twisting and becoming larger with each passing moment as Ankaa was quickly approaching. The girl was quick and had some particular style or technique which worried the hydromancer. There had to be some distance made or this battle would be lost.
But Ankaa came in quickly and with a swift sweeping motion swept Mandi's feet off the floor, the young mage fell backwards unto the floor, landing on it's back. Mandi made a huffed sound and then using the right hand with the water contained around it, slamming into the ground to create a geyser to attempt to hurl Ankaa into the air and away from the prone mage. Mandi also began to swiftly gather more water to the left hand, using said water to summon forth two water elementals which took shape right next to the prone mage.
"Grab!" Mandi yelled out to the newly formed summons, while preparing to avoid any possibly breakthrough by the fierce close-combatant. The two bulky looking water elementals went towards Ankaa, intent on grabbing her and pulling her inside of their watery bodies.
The mage was felled but the water they’d gathered up to that point in their palm burst out right in front of her. Though Ankaa swiftly drew out her sabre and slashed in front of her, this was water she was attempting to cut. The upper half of the stream dispersed and fell down upon her in a torrent of rain, soaking her. The lower part of the jet was still forceful enough to stagger her, even though she’d been in a decently stable position. Ankaa had to put her left palm to the ground so as to not be pushed back or overturned, and used her right to shield against the remaining water. However, there was enough of it to have her splutter and cough afterwards.
When she blinked the liquid out her eyes and peered towards her opponent, she saw that Mandi had already righted themselves, and created two hulking water beings. Ankaa stood up, gaze flicking from water creature to water creature, before briefly settling on the mage warily.
A water-mage. Very capable. This could be bad. The martial artist wrapped her mana round her blade, and slashed a wide arc, arm moving from left hip to right. Both elementals were cut through at the waist, and part of the wind force moved between and beside them, in the general direction of her opponent. However, Ankaa did not have opportunity to focus on Mandi yet, as the water-creations were already reforming, the water of their torso fluidly reconnecting with their lower body.
Moreover, with their orders to grab her, the elementals were already upon her, trying to snatch at her. Dancing around the brutes, Ankaa slashed at them, observing the obvious distractions while sneaking the occasional glance at Mandi whenever she was able.
She…he? Knows I need to get close, and has means to prevent it. Bad indeed. A precise vertical motion of her sabre was finally enough to permanently disarm one of the creations, and Ankaa raised her brows in realization. She gripped her weapon with both hands, and sliced from the floor up, halving one of them.
Avoiding the other’s grabs, she gradually weaved her way closer to the mage, though it certainly was not simple to make any progress. Inhaling deeply, she twirled on the spot, and halved the other one. These two had certainly accomplished to delay her, however, giving the mage opportunity for more preparation. Temporarily sheathing her blade, Ankaa adopted a wide stance, and sent a barrage of gale palms towards Mandi, observing their reaction and defenses. Then, once again re-drawing the sabre, she advanced upon the mage at a dash, determined to get within range despite the obstacles.
The opponent was a competent one, Mandi could tell as much. The young woman opposing the hydromancer seemed to have both precise aim and impact. It seemed as if her swings were amplified by the very air itself, if not even cutting it through itself.
'Not bad.' Mandi thought on seeing Ankaa take on the water elementals, whilst such was happening the hydromancer took the opportunity to get up on it's feet and then flooding the ground with water, rising up to the point of half a boot. It was quite the area around the mage and slowly sliding over even towards the elementals. Whilst the opponent was both swift and powerful, it wouldn't mean a thing if she couldn't reach the hydromancer. Now Mandi had been given enough time to create a field of water. Once that had been done, the hydromancer smirked but soon removed it on seeing Ankaa having sliced her way through the water elementals with such ease and grace, but not only that the girl was now counterattacking.
'Aeromancer. Hmm..' Mandi thought, gritting teeth together before seeing disruptions in the very air itself. Mandi raised a few pillars of water between the two of them, but the compressed balls of air pushed through. Mandi's eyes narrowed and the young mage raised both arms sending up a large wall of water, but halfway's up it began to shimmer and turn into ice. The compact balls of air slamming into it, denting it but the wall holding.
'Close. If I didn't have my ice magic that would be the end. But now it's my turn. Take this...' Mandi began to focus on the water under the young mage's control, feeling the very water at the ground, the wall of ice inbetween them. The young mage extended the field of water abit further until there were a pair of feet being felt running across the water, causing slight ripples and disturbance.
'I cannot see you. But I can feel you!' The hydromancer focused and began to raise smaller geysers of water, turning them into jagged spears of ice halfway up from the watery field behind and in front of Ankaa, a few of them appearing in seemingly random places before the melee combatant. Almost as if the hydromancer was trying to lure the capable Ankaa into a dead end.
'The ultimate defense and offense!' The mage smiled from behind the wall of ice, what was Ankaa going to do now? Mandi had often considered possible counters to the water field. But did this opponent possess such?
By this point, Ankaa was wading through an ankle-height field of water. It was a hassle, but she’d honestly have more trouble if Mandi had decided to ice the whole field. As it was, she was only slowed down a bit. She was jogging towards her opponent, who’d uprighted a huge ice-wall in front of them.
As she ran, more of those geysers got in the way. She couldn’t just dash through them, since they froze midway, their sharp points ever-chasing. Ankaa narrowed her eyes as she slashed through one, her sabre getting stuck mid-way for a second. Though their sight was obstructed, the mage was clearly able to see her in some way. The spears of ice were too accurate for it to be otherwise. Perhaps Mandi was able to see mana just like Ankaa could.
Regardless, she had to make her way through, even if she had to cut down or shatter all the icicles. She did have to be careful not to get caught in any of the geysers and be frozen, which was an additional challenge. All the magic being performed left a chill in the air, and Liu’s breath misted. Each breath left a familiar sharp feeling in her throat and lungs. It was accompanied by a sensation similar to drinking from a clear forest spring after a rigorous exercise, which the martial artist suspected partially reflected Mandi’s mana characteristic. She could admit that she liked it, and she also admired their masterful and tactical use of their power.
That respect was a tad hard to keep in her mind when after finally making her way to the ice-wall and attempting to get around it, a handful of geysers sprouted towards her, almost poking her eyes out. Ankaa protected her face with her sabre, and twisted out of being outright speared through, but her arms and torso suffered several cuts in the process. Unconsciously producing a close-mouthed growl, the martial artist broke out of the semi-confinement with a forceful outward motion of her arms. Then, a steam cloud wafted towards her, and she retreaded behind the wall with a hiss, almost getting burned on top of everything else.
Ankaa stared up the wall in determination. Her opponent was just on the other side of it, and if she couldn’t get around, then there was only one option left. Well, maybe two. Shatter the wall or get over it. She stood in front of it, and slashed at it several times. As expected, it did not fall. However, similarly to how it had been dented by her gale palms, there were now several grooves lining and dotting the wall as well. Grimly resolved, Ankaa stabbed her sword point into one groove, grabbed onto another with her free hand, and began to climb.
No different than scaling a mountain in winter, she tried to convince herself as she moved up. Unfortunately, this was a man-made obstacle, and the person on the other side rather had the means to worsen the situation. A lot.
Sweat was falling down Mandi's face as geyser after geyser had been turned into ice on the other side of the wall of ice. The opponent had made swift movements forwards and seemingly avoided being hit or perhaps only lightly so. The hydromancer was impressed, even if now wasn't the time to think about such things. Feeling the quick steps in the water getting closer and closer. Then there was a scratching sound on the other side of the ice wall just as the feeling in the water seemed to vanish. She was attacking the wall? No... she had leapt up on the wall of ice? She had actually made it all the way there?
'What? She made it?'It took a brief moment for Mandi to gather the fact that this was certainly the case, Ankaa was so close, just on the other side of the wall and was surely intending on descending down on the aqua mage with no doubt fierce retaliation. This could not be allowed to happen, quickly the hydromancer dismissed the idea of hurling ice shards over the side, she was way too close. To topple the wall of ice could potentially cause fatal damage and that was out of question. To use steam to hurt someone was only a last resort if there was no other way. It had to be just liquid water.
Thus Mandi began with outstretched arms to quickly draw water from the field, closer and behind the wall, in order to build up a large amount of it, before pushing it up along Mandi's side of the ice wall and then pour it down with full force on the other side. Like a fierce waterfall or a liquid avalanche. It was in this moment that Mandi felt bad for resorting to these tactics, but this was in order to remain within the academy. Not for power, not for fame... and not for gloating. This was to better learn to control the magic, and only by staying at the academy could this be achieved. Had this been a fight for the miracle seven, Mandi would have stepped down in an instant and given it to Ankaa without a fight. Though if a friend had asked the young mage to win or if there was a personal reason then perhaps...
Once all the water had been poured over the wall, Mandi controlled some remaining water along the ground to skate around the wall to see what had happened. If Ankaa was there and if so, were she allright?
There was a deeply disturbing
whoosh sound beneath and all around her, and when Ankaa glanced down, it was to see all the water being vacated…and collected. Paling, she gulped, and in a moment of panic, simply stuck her sabre deep within the ice-wall, and clung desperately to it. She was not a moment too late, for right then, a literal lake fell onto her head. Calling it a mere waterfall would do it no justice. No, this was much more, and all at once, rushing at her in one great torrent.
Ankaa looked at the approaching current wildly, inhaling deeply and doing her best to emulate a stubborn index. Yet, it was not enough, all that water being dropped down on her was simply too strong. Ankaa was swept down in its wake. Her grip on her weapon loosened, and while it remained stuck in the wall, she was brought down and flooded. Though she kept her breath as long as she could, and attempted to fight her way out of the downpour with bursts of air, she was overwhelmed. Eventually, she had to inhale, even if it meant taking in some water. Blinded, tired, soaked, and half-drowning, Ankaa passed out.
The hydromancer's eyes was wary, had the opponent somehow evaded this attack, then Mandi would be in a bad situation. The effort it took to push all that water over the wall of ice, the elemental summoning and in overall the magic use was beginning to wear on the young mage. Had the mage gone overboard with the amount of geysers and things to defeat this foe, perhaps so. But it couldn't be helped, this was a fight which had to be won.
'Where is she.. oh?' Mandi thought upon seeing the blade of Ankaa, it had been jammed into the wall of ice. It was impressive to see how determined the girl had been on overcoming this obstacle, and speaking of the girl... further away from the wall Mandi could see her. She was lying down and not moving. The realization then came to the young mage, had it been too much? Was she allright?
Mandi dropped the grip around the magical water and began to run over towards Ankaa.
"Hey! Are you allright?!" Mandi called out, but swiftly got up to the girl. She didn't respond. Mandi quickly looked Ankaa over, her body was covered in cuts but they seemed to be of less concern, the girl had likely swallowed alot of water, which had to be removed as soon as possible. Was her heart still beating? Mandi quickly leaned down and pressed the ear against the girl's chest, there had to be a heartbeat but it was hard to hear due to the wet fabric and Mandi's own heart beating rapidly, the adrenaline still running wild from the fight. The mage focused, pressing the ear closer still and accidently placing one hand on Ankaa's chest for support and the other against her shoulder. There was a heartbeat. The young mage sighed in relief but there was no time to waste. The hydromancer couldn't remove the water from inside of the girl by magical means, it would be far too risky an attempt, if even possible. Mandi shook that idea away quickly and decided to do this in a more mundane manner.
The young mage took a deep breath in, and then leaned down to breathe some air into the Ankaa's mouth, and then tried to lean her body slightly to the side so that any water inside could slide out of her lungs would she somehow snap out of it. Mandi was not good at carrying or holding unto things for a long time, but the girl seemed relatively light and right now there was no time to complain.
This was totally different from waking someone up by throwing water in their face, the small cuts could be treated afterwards by the hydromancer if the girl would be willing. The more important part was now having her open her eyes and breathe normally.
"Hey! Come on! Talk to me here!" Mandi shook the shoulder of Ankaa abit.
"Hey!" A second call was made to the unresponsive girl, followed by a slight shake of her shoulder.
Something was shaking her, and she felt that damnable water in her throat again. Sensing and opportunity, her body contracted, her lungs squeezing the water out. Ankaa turned fully over, slapping the yellowish figure above her out of the way as she heaved and coughed and hacked all the water out. Her face was heated, her eyes and nose running, her throat burning. She felt like a mess.
Several exhausting minutes later, she was done, and she wiped at her face with a groan. She peered up at Mandi, realizing they’d probably freaked and tried to help her.
“Thanks,” she said, voice rough and grainy, as she picked herself up. She was of half-a-mind to ditch all her clothes, but instead, she adapted her offensive gale palm spell for utility purposes, expelling a light but continuous breeze from her palms as she set to drying her attire.
“You’re a difficult opponent to fight against,” she’d intended it as a compliment, but it came out as a grumble. With a sigh, she added,
“I’ll be tasting water for weeks.”When she finally wasn’t feeling like a rain-soaked dog anymore, she went to retrieve her weapon, then returned to continue the conversation with Mandi.
“It was a good match, and I’d love a rematch, but,” she turned to glance at Professor Nyx with a frown,
“I suppose I’ll be getting expelled, after all.” Ankaa shrugged, trying not to be too disappointed or ashamed at the thought of being punished with expulsion for losing.
“Ah, well. Would you like to watch the rest of the matches with me?” she asked, gesturing to their classmates, the majority of whom were still duking it out.
"Whoa!" Mandi had fallen backwards, Ankaa had slapped the young hydromancer out of the way, whilst coughing and getting the water out of her. She certainly looked like a mess, though Mandi knew that occasionally it was good to be quiet. It didn't take Mandi long to breathe out a sigh of relief at seeing the competent fellow student breathing properly again, Mandi also found the opportunity to get up from the ground itself, brushing off the rear of the yellow attire to make sure no grass got stuck to it. And that's when Mandi felt the bruise and pain in the lags after having had been swept off the feet by Ankaa early in the fight. It was the mage's adrenaline which had so far prevented it to be felt, but now it did sting.
'O-ouch..' The mage thought before shaking it's head from side to side, now it was time to try help heal the girl- Oh she was already drying herself off with her air magic? Perhaps she still had alot more strength to use? Mandi was further impressed seeing how good of a shape Ankaa was in, considering all the magics she went through. Then Ankaa had complimented the yellow clad mage.
"Happy to help! Oh? I am? Heheh... oh I'm nothing special I'm sure." The bruised hydromancer said awkwardly, scratching it's neck.
"Well, you are really good yourself you know! Oh and rematch?" Mandi blinked, then began to briefly ponder of the idea of that. There was surely nothing to be gained by them beating each other up aside from satisfying that professor of theirs. It seemed like he had a taste for blood. That former miracle seven. Then Mandi snapped out of the thoughts as Ankaa spoke about possibly being expelled, the thought didn't sit well with Mandi at all. Whilst Ankaa had been unable to win this fight, it was not in her favor Mandi thought. Because of how different their magics were, Ankaa would surely have won had she had faced someone who fought more directly.
Mandi felt a slight feeling of shame, but then shook that away. It's not only a person's magic that determines a winner, the body, the intellect and there were other factors too. But Ankaa surely did seem like a smart one and tough, so it was surely just a really bad opponent for her. At least that's what Mandi thought.
"I will speak with professor Nyx, I'll tell him that you fought really well and try convince him to not expell you. I don't think he is really going to throw people out though. It goes against everything the academy stands for no? It isn't a persons initial skill with magic that determines if they will be-" Mandi took a slight breath before continuing.
"A legend. As some like to put it. It's about a personal quest, your own path forwards. If you end up becoming part of the miracle seven, graduading or not, maybe some who come here have other dreams. There's more to a person than a first impression..." The voice of the hydromancer became more serious and almost abit grim to the end.
"Oh sorry, I'm Mandi El-Alzaru. Good to meet you! Oh and I would like to watch the rest of the matches with you. But uhm... you're bleeding." The hydromancer smiled softly, then pointed out in a more serious facial expression to the various cuts that Ankaa had gotten.
Ankaa raised a brow at Mandi when they appeared to be abashed at her statement.
“Being too humble is an insult not only to yourself but to me as well,” she commented.
“If you deny your strength then how could I be anything but weak?” she asked neutrally. She wasn’t offended, because it was clear the mage had good intentions, but she did want to point out their refusal of recognition was faulty.
The pair made their way to the sidelines of the courtyard, out of the way of every other fight. Ankaa shook her head at Mandi’s proposal to speak to the professor on her behalf.
“That is a very honorable offer,” she stated, a thankful smile gracing her lips.
“However, I am sure the professor will make the correct decision. He is watching all the fights, after all, and it is up to him to decide who he finds worthy,” she concluded.
“I agree that a person’s individual path is the most important, but this academy…I think they choose to focus on the strongest, those with the most obvious potential for power. They say they are interested in honor, kindness, and heroism too, but I haven’t seen many expelled for lacking that,” she pointed out.
Liu shrugged; it was how it was, no matter putting up a fuss if this is how the headmaster and the faculty decided for things to be. She nodded at Mandi’s introduction.
“Yes, I remember from the introductions. I’m Ankaa, in case you forgot,” she added mischievously. At the reminder of her wounds, she blinked down at herself, startled.
“Oh, I already got used to the sting. They’re not that deep, but you’re right that I should treat them.” Saying so, she sat herself down on a well-cared-for patch of grass, a good distance away from the duels. Focusing on her breath, and turning her intention and mana inwards, she entered a brief trance, her awareness drifting yet intently directed at her body. Given the relatively mild nature of her wounds and aches, it was but a few minutes until Ankaa opened her eyes, the founds gone. She was still tired, of course, so simply remained sitting on the ground. With a questioning gaze up at Mandi, she patted the grass next to her, a clear invitation for them to also sit down.
Mandi settled down next to Ankaa shortly after the latter had indicated the area right next to her as a valid place to sit. The mage's legs ached abit so it was a good idea to sit down.
"You are right. It is an insult. Also that's a handy technique you have there." Mandi nodded swiftly in agreement while watching Ankaa heal herself.
"Honorable hm?" The hydromancer had tapped it's lips with a finger on hearing that, recalling the headmaster having spoken about the four principals of the academy.
Did that meant the young mage was honorable? The thought had lingered for abit before the mage had mentally waved it away.
"I hope professor Nyx will make all the right choices. Oh and I didn't forget your name~ Though I wonder what would you say strength is? The ability to seize the power? The ability to control it? The ability to reject it?" Mandi smiled softly, looking Ankaa over from top to toe, taking abit longer time looking over her face and chest. The girl was pretty. Mandi hadn't thought much about it when they were fighting as it had happened to suddenly, but now as they were sitting next to oneanother that was much easier.
"Oh~ You look so pretty by the way~ Are you together with one of the boys in the academy? Perhaps that loud one? Or the whirlwind idi- Caelum right? Oh whose your roommates? Who are you cheering for in these matches? I'm really hoping Yvaine will do allright! So what do you like to do when not learning magic? Do you like baths? Or trying on new clothes?" Mandi asked question after question, there was no brakes on the verbal missile storm.
“The nature of strength…always a difficult question,” Ankaa said, mulling over the answer.
“A person’s inner quality, the conviction to do the good one can, the connection with others, nurturing the self and the world…” she trailed off, remembering several lectures on this matter. However, she could not quite verbalize what she learned and believed in any more cohesively than she had.
She was momentarily distracted from the matches by Mandi’s slew of questions, and turned to look at them.
“I am familiar with the concept of appreciating a person’s appearance, though I can’t say I understand it. I would advise you not to linger on such trivialities either,” she commented. Her thoughts briefly strayed to the memory of her biological mother’s kidnapping, and the much later realization of why and for what purposes the bandits had likely taken her. Liu’s expression darkened minutely, but she soon shook it off.
“It’s what inside that matters,” she murmured, and turned back to gaze out into the courtyard.
After a lull in the conversation, she was inundated with an entirely off-topic slew of questions.
“Together?” is what she chose to focus on first, tasting the word. Ankaa eventually concluded that Mandi was referring to a courting ritual, which tended to result in the joining of a couple; physically, spiritually, and legally.
“No, I am not, nor do I intend to be – not unless I happen to discover someone who would match me well,” she offered, though she did not truly think that she would find such a person when they were all supposed to be focused on learning and training for the duration of their stay.
“Hm, I am curious how Kress and Misaiya will manage, since I’ve talked to them just before this. A three-way match is bound to be interesting anyhow. But otherwise, I intend to observe anyone I find to be a capable combatant,” she answered, not at all rushing as she did so, regardless of how urging Mandi’s questions had been.
“My roommates?” she questioned, the answer oddly hazy, and out of reach of her recall.
“I am unsure,” she admitted. She felt both as she’d met them and as if she had no idea who she was supposed to room with at all.
“As for what I like…hmm…being outside, physically active or meditating. I’ve also found drawing to be a very relaxing hobby.” Ankaa wasn’t certain whether to mention anything else, since some of her interests had to do with magic, learning, or both, and after a pause, simply left it at that.
“What about you?” she added as an afterthought, not at all bothering to ask anything specific. She rather thought that the mage was chatty enough for the both of them, and that they were sure to find a way to answer at length despite her curt question.
Mandi remained quiet while listening to all the answers Ankaa gave to the questions asked, the hydromancer nodded slowly upon receiving each answer.
'Strength exists in ones core, outer appearances do not matter. In harmony with oneself and the surrounding area. She is intigued by those who are similar to her and capable combatants... and drawing. This girl is all about feeling and seeing things.' Mandi thought as Ankaa took a minor pause, before she proceeded to talk about Kress and Misaiya. Kress Alstein was one of the students which Mandi recalled from the lecture hall, mostly because of his chirpy tone and speaking to professor Nyx soon after introducing himself. Misaiya on the other hand was not someone the young mage had seen. A late arrival or someone who camoflagued him or herself?
"But thanks for telling me, I feel like I know you much better now.~"The darkhaired mage was smiling broadly before proceeding to speak.
"Three ways are always interesting! You never know when someone is trying to sneak up behind you while you are busy with the other person! I am hoping Yvaine comes out on top in this~." Mandi said in a softer tone, looking towards the area where Yvaine, Misaiya and Kress were.
"Being outside and training alot hm? I suppose drawing sceneries be something you do then?" The mage tilted it's head to the side slightly, looking to Ankaa as the girl had asked about Mandi's hobbies.
"Oh.. well.. I like many things, such as reading and writing. Like reading poems or writing them, or riddles. I also like to train physically and with magic, a strong vessel is needed to contain vast mana." Mandi took a moment to breathe before continuing.
"I also fancy abit of alchemy and looking at plants nad possibly grind them down for some useful potions. Well and I like magic and learning more. Oh and try out fine attires." Mandi chuckled softly, turning to look to the threeway fight.
"Though maybe we ought to tell the professor we are done. Right?~" It didn't take long for the mage to tilt it's head and close it's eyes, with that near trademark soft smile decorating the lips.
Ankaa listened without much comment, only the occasional vocalized
"Hmm," or the nod of her head signs that she was not ignoring her companion.
"Sceneries, and just about everything else," she confirmed the mage's observation.
"Oh, alchemy?" she perked up, glancing at Mandi when that detail caught her attention.
"If we ever get the chance, we could do some sort of a project for potion making," she said, an eager glint in her eye. Her pleased smile turned into a mild frown when Mandi suggested going to their professor.
"I'm sure he saw that we're done," she waved a hand dismissively. She didn't particularly desire to parade her loss in front of an unknown instructor, and if she ended up being expelled for it anyhow, Nyx was unlikely to offer
her any sort of lesson on how to do better. As such, she simply stayed where she was, focusing on the remaining combatants.
FulgrimLives
Lucid Dreaming
Expendable
Kero
Tim the Yeti
rush99999
Fading Memory
Izurich